Axle-housing.



1. 'F. & H. E. DODGE.

AXLE HOUSWG.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1914.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

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I. F. 81 H. E. DODGE.

AXLE HOUSING.

APPLICATION fILED AUG-19. 19H. 1,209,134. Patented Dec. 19,1916.

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ga MA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN I. DODGE, OF DETROIT, AND HORACE E. DODGE, F GBOSSE POINTE,MICHIGAN,

ASSIGHOBS TO DODGE BROTHERS, HICHIGAJI.

OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF AXLE-HOUSING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application fled August 19, 1914.. Serial No. 857,481.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN F. DODGE and Homer: E. Devon, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Detroit, Michigan, and

Grosse Pointe, Michigan, respectively, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Axle-Housings, of WhlCh the following is a clear,full, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements 1n axle housings or casings, moreparticularly for the rear axle of a motor car, and one of the objects ofthe invention is to provide a housing which possesses combinedstrengthand elasticity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an axle housing withstifi'ening means arranged longitudinally bein preferably composed ofsheet metal.

0t er objects of the invention are to provide an improved constructionof houslng which is simple, durable and practical.

These being among the objects of the present invention, the sameconsists of certain features of construction and combinations of 25parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed with reference to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a suitable embodiment of theinvention, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvedhousing; Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof; Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8respectwely are transverse member only of the housing on the lines 3-3,4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7 and 8--8 Flg. 1; Fig, 9 is a longitudinal section online 9 9, Fig. 11; Fig. 10 isa longitudinal section on line 10-10, Fig.11; and Fig. 11 a crosssection on line 111l, Figs. 9 and 10; saidfigures showing more clearly the construction of the housing andinserted tube at the 'oint.

1 Referring to the drawings, the improved housing or casing comprises anintermediate member'- 10 and end members 11, 12. The intermediate memberwill first be described. It is preferably composed of heavy sheet metal,made of two properly bent up long1-.

tudinal and transversely arched sectlons 13, 14, said sections beingcomplementary to each other, and the lon 'tiudinal joints at 15 beingunited as by we ds. It will thus be seen that each of the said sectionsacts as a lateral support for the other section so that said sections'niutually su port each other 65 said sections being furt er strengthenthereof, the same sections of the intermediate in a lateral direction byarching them in cross section. In this way a stiff and strong and yetsomewhat elastic intermediate member 10 is provided. Said member 10comprises a central enlarged portion 16, while the ends of said member10 taper away from said enlarged central portion. The cross-section ofthe enlarged central portion 16 is clearly shown in Fig. 3, while thecross-sections of the major portion of each end beyond the enlargedportion 16 is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 an 7. From Fig. 4 it will be seenthat. the intermediate member 10 is relatively narrower in one directionthan in the other, and from Fig. 5 it will be seen that therelative'proportions are not so widely difl'erent,.while from Fig. 6 itwill be seen that the cross section is substantially square. From Fig. 7it will be seen that here the irregular cross-section has substantiallydisappeared and that the cross-section is substantially cylindrical. Ofcourse these proportions and configuration may be more or less variedbut the said housing becomes wider toward its middle axis, along onetransverse dimension than along the other. Said intermediate member10'has side walls which in a transverse direction are waved or formed incompound curves, produced by means of longitudinal corrugations 17, 18,at oplposlte edges or'sides and intermediate or si e corrugations 19,20, which are spaced equidistant from the corrugations 17 and 18. Bymeans'o'f this construction, the said housing is further stifi'ened andstrengthened, and yet a certain degree of elasticity is rmitted. Saidcorrugations 17, 18, 19 an 20 project outwardly, along the taperingsides of the intermediate member 10, and, becoming gradually smaller,extend to oints short of the extremities ofsaid memr, and at theextremities the ends of the member are made cylindrical, as shown incross-section in Fig. 8.

From Figs. 9, 1 and 11 in particular, it will be seen that the endportions of the relatively short tubular members 24 and 25, are insertedinto the cylindrical sleeves or ends 21, 22, until the edges thereofpass beyond them to points within and clear of the corrugated portionsor those tapered portions of the housin member 10 which adjoin saidsleeves or en s 21, 22, and that the inserted ends of the said tubularmembers are e cially formed. The inner ends of the tu u- 0 omitted,

lar members 24, 25, thus extend far enough What we claim as new isintohousin member 10 to bridge and 1. An axle housing, comprising alongitustrengthcn t e connection between the taper dinally corrugatedintermediate member and straight sections of said member so thatvertical strains are taken care of.

At 26, the intermediate member and each tubular member are preferablybrazed together., At these points the squared portions of the housingshown in section in Fig. 6 are enlarged into the substantiallycylindrical section shown in Fig. 7, forming shoulders 10 beyond, whilethe tubular members are similarly formed with shoulders 27, and theinner extremities, beyond them, reduced; The inner extremity of eachtubular member is also squared as shown at 28 to fit into thecorresponding portion of the intermediate member but as said extremityis not taperei], spaces are left between the Karts, at 29, Fig. 10 wheresaid members are razed together.

By means of the described special joint between the intermediate bers,any torque in said members is taken care of. To the same end rivets 30may connect the said members. nd members 24, 25, are preferabl 'made ofseamless tubing. The outer en of the end members 24, 25, are contractedor reduced as shown at 31.

Obviousl the resent invention is succeptible o modi cation, as parts maybe arts added and parts substituted without eparting from the spirit andscope thereof.

and tubular memhaving cylindrical uncorrugated ends, said member beingtapered toward said ends, and end members inserted into said cylindricalends and extending inwardly beyond said cylindrical ends to pointswithin the corrugations, so as to bridge the joints between the taperand the cylindrical ends, said members being permanently united.

2. An axle housing, comprising a longitudinally corrugated intermediatemember having cylindrical unco ated ends, said member being taperedtoward said ends, and end members inserted into said cylindrical endsand extending inwardl beyond said cylindrical ends, so as to bri ge thejoints between the taper and the cylindrical ends, said intermediatemember and end members including non-circular, engaging and coactingsurfaces at the meeting portions of said members, and which are of lessdiameter than the cylindrical portions, and means for permanentlyunitingsaidend members to said intermediate member.

Signed at Detroit, Mich, this 31 day of July 1914.

.JOHN F. DODGE.

HORACE E. DODGE.

Witnesses:

W. R. Wnson, G. W. Mason.

